Automatic pin-setter



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AUTOMATIC PIN SETTER Filed Dec. 14, 1931 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 JwewraqfR/vssr H501: .fgr PER A; oe/vsy P 1935- I E. HEDENSKOQG 2,015,428

AUTOMATIC P-IN SETTER Filed Dec. '14, 1931 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ez/vssr-aslv Shana IN vE/vroe Sept. 24, 1935.

is. HED ENSKOOG AUTOMATIC PIN SETTER Filed Dec. 14, 1951 10 Sheets-Sheet5 ERNEJT HEOENSKOOG I //v VENT? BM W qrrazlvs' Y Sept. 24, 1935- E.HEDENSKOOG AUTOMATIC PIN SETTER 10 Sheet'-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 14, 1931Per 24, 1935-. E. EDENsKoo AUTOMATIC PIN SETTER Filed D60. 14, .1931

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AUTOMATIC PIN SETTER Filed Dec. 14, 1931 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 Sept, 24,1935. v EJHEDENSKOOG AUTOMATIC PIN SETTER Filed Dec. 14, 1931 l0Sheets-She et '7.

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ff J2 p 24, 1935- 'E. HEDENSKOOG AUTOMATIC PIN SETTER 4frae/vfy PatentedSept. 24, 1935 UNITED STATES,

2.015.428 an'romno rm-snr'mn Ernest 'Hedenskoog, Mnskegon Mich assi'gnorto The Brunswick-Balke-Collender omp ny,

Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Appllcation December 14,

1931, Serial No. 580,835

This invention relates to an improved automatic pinsetter for bowlingalleys and has for one of its principal objects the provision of amachine which will dispense with the services of the pin boy, while atthe same time performing, mechantcally and automatically, the operationsof remov ing the pins from'a bowling alley and resetting the same inposition upon the alley for further play. One of the important objectsof this invention is to provide a machine which will remove fallen pins,known as "dead wood from the alley, while at the same time retainingupright pins upon the alley for additional play.

Another important object of this invention resides in theprovision of adevice for automatically returning the bowling balls to the player whileat the same time resetting the pins,.and includes mechanism by which thepins, after falling into or being delivered to the pit areautomaticallyconveyed to the resetting mechanis i and dis--tributedthere-on in position so that. when reset they are in properposition onthe alley for play.

This operationis. accomplished by the player from the playingend of thealley by merely shifting a lever, pullinga chain, pushing a button orthe or push-buttons, one for removing dead wood and re-setting part ofthe pins and the other for sweeping the alley and re-setting all of thepins.

A further object of. the invention is the provision, in an automaticpinsetter, 'of a setting 'frame for containing a full number of pins tobe set in position upon the-alley, a storage maga zine above the settingframe which empties another full set of pins into the setting frame atthe proper time, and means to convey the pins from the bowling alleypitto the storage magazine. I vStill another object of this inventionresidesin the provision of means by which the pins are always presentedto the storage magazine with their buttends foremost, and inproper'order.

until ten pins are'the'rein, whereupon further delivery is automaticallyhalted. V An object of the invention is the provision of. means by whichthe pins in the storage magazines are automatically delivered to thepinsetter frame whenever the pinsetter frame is empty and when thestorage magazine has been filled.

- Another object of the invention is to provide img', and handling inand: for

erly their movements.

invention is to-provide a machine which will set.

player's position'and which includes devices wholly under the control ofthe player whiclr will remove the dead wood from the alley and resetlive pins and which will also clear the alley and position a new set ofpins in proper place upon the alley bed, and which furthermore willperform each and all of. these operations more quickly and accuratelythan they can be performed by manual operations.

Another and further important object of the invention resides in theprovision of safety devices whereby when the machine-has been set by theplayer to perform a certain operationor while it isperforming suchoperation, it will be impossible for the player to either deliberatelyor accidentally start the machine upon another operation out ofsequence, whereby jamming or faulty handling of' the desired movementsisavoided.

One object of the invention resides in the provision of improved meansfor sweeping the pins from the alley whereby the sweep itself movesfirst in an approximately vertical direction down to the alley bed andthen horizontally along the alley bed to clear the same, whereupon itreverses these movements to'resume its original position. 2 like, therebeing only two of such operating levers Another new feature of theinvention resides in v a remote control means whereby anypin or pins orcombination thereof may be'retained in playingposition on the alley.

- Anotherobiectis the provision of means where- 36 byif the operatorinadvertently pulls one of the operating cords when the machine is notin posi v tion to reset pins or sweep dead wood, the sweep will betrlpped allowing it todescend by gravitythrough a portion of its initialvertical move-" ment when it automatically stops and remains in thatposition until the machine has completed its cycle or has delivered afull complement of pins to the se ter frame where pen the sweepthenautomatically resumes it's ovement, sweeping 4 the bed and returningto its normal position'allowing further play.

Another and still further important object ,of'the invention is theprovision of a novel means which means are entirely separateand-distinct from the means whichdelive'r pins from the pit tothemagazine and whereby the balls .are' much more quickly retum'ed, therebyexpeditl 'A still furtherobiect off the invention resides 'the'improved-elevators for receivingthe pins the which lift them frompitand which elevators automatically deliver either'side-of the PR- toIQ;

a central chute whence they are directed into the rotary storagemagazine. Other and further important objects of the invention will beapparent from the disclosures g in the'accompanying drawings andfollowing specification.

-The invention, in a preferred form, is illustrated in the drawings andhereinafter more fully 1 described. In the drawings- Figure 1 is a sideelevation of the improved automatic pinsetting machine of thisinvention, parts being omitted. v

Figure 2 is a front .view of the machine. Figure 3isatopplanofthedevica'Figure 4 is a top plan of the opened gear box and the associated powershafts and power distributing elements comprising the main operatln8features of the invention.

go I Figure 5 is a view of one side of the gear housing illustrated inFigure 4, showinfl Particularly the cams and levers which control theaction of the pin setting and sweeping mechanism; and also the magnetcontrol switch for the .pinsetter frame.

Figure 6 is a view of the other side ofthe gear 0 theretoandincluding aview ofthepartswhichoperate the shifting means for the pin magazine. 11is a side elevation of the pin receiving and delivering drum showing thesame as associated with the ball delivery means.

Figure 12 is a sectional view on the line l 2 i2 -oi"Fi'gure ll,andshowing alaothepin pit with cushioning elements.

Figure 13,1; a. view particularly the' operating arms for the sweep'andpin. setter 5 which are on the front of the gear box, and the safetylock-means. V

Figure 14 is a detail view showing the electrical connections forselectively retaining any desired pin or pins inplaying position on thealley. I

58 Figure 15 is a side elevation of thedevice shown in Figure 14,-additional. elements being illustrated. I I

dfigure'ldisatopplanviewofthemanually operated control means'for the pinselecting devioeshowninlflgures Hand 15,. v

l igmel'lisasideviewofthecontrolmeans showninFigurelo."-' F. Figure 18isasectionalview oftheapparatus shown inl 'igure'li, the line l8.il ofFigure 14.

l 'igur'elflisadetailsectionalviewtakenon me linen-li d Figure 4 lookingin the direction,

10 1'lgure ;20 is anelevation-ofthe hsndles'and associated controlwires, showingthesameasadaptedtobeconnectedtotheirassociated'partsillustratedinl'igurefi.

Figure 21 fli0'l .the sequenced-operations. 76- wherebythepin-retainingmeans of the maga- 'balls zine is moved frompin-dropping to pin-holding Figure 22 is a diagrammatic view showing theelectrical connections and associated parts. Y

Figure 23 is an enlarged detail view of certain 5 portions of Figure 9.As shown in the drawings- The reference numeral lll'indicates generally,the bed of a bowling alley or the like, having side guards II andprovided' with .mechanism-j supporting frame elements I2 and I3 as bestshown in Figure 1. The pins I4 are placed on the alley bed-i0 by theimproved apparatus of this inventionand in the usual progress of thegame are knocked down in whole or in part by means of a ball Ii.

In the ordinary operation of the game of bowling the pins are collectedby a pin boy in the pit of each alley, who places thel-balls on a tracksuch as that shown at I for returii to the player and who removes thefallen pins called dead wood, which may remain on the alley or in thegutters alongside the alley, and who sets the pins as required. 4

I The pin boys usually work with a setter which comprises a triangularframe such as that illustrated at i1 and in the prior practice the boyplaced the pins into buckets therein, while the setter is at rest abovethe alley bed, and then operates suitable mechanism to first depress thesetter, deposit .the pins on the bed and then elevate the setter out ofthe way of the pins and emachinev of this invention will automaticallyperform the operations of delivering the '5 ball froni the pit to thereturntrack and setting the pins in the proper positionon' the alley bedafter the bed has been cleared, which operation is also accomplished bythemachine at the will of the operator. I o

7 The machine will also retain for further play any-pins not knockeddown by the first ball,

'while at the same. time it will'remove fallen pins operated by meansofdnving chains or the like II, which chains are driven from a mainsource ofpower such as a motor or a power shaft 2i.

Associated-with each each of the pin receiving and returning drums I8 isa ballreturning element (Figures 11 and 12), each of which comprisesessentially an annular rim 22 mounted for free rotation on acorresponding inner rim 2! and driven by means of a belt or the like 24.These ball returning wheels are also continuously operatedand when aball falls against the edge thereof, the edge being preferably coveredwith rubber or the like, the ball is immediately forced upward- .lybetween the rotating edge and a corresponding .pair of rubbercoveredrails 28. The contact beetween the balls and the railsforces the ballsupwardly and finally deiivers them onto a sectionofthetracklfiasectionbeingadjacenttothef 7 upper end of each of the balldelivering rims.

In the meantime the pins which have fallen Iintothereeessesin-thepindeliveringdrums ll (Figure '7) are carriedupwardly and delivered onto a-platform 21 (Figures 2 and 12). Pivotallymounted beneath each platform 21 is a shutter 28 having an extension 29.This shutter 28 normally retains the pin M on the platform 21 until apinelevator; as shown at 30, in its downward motion ing chute 32 intowhich each elevator alternately" delivers pins. Each elevator is drivenby means of a chain 33 which runs over a wheel 34, the wheel in turnbeing mounted on'a shaft 35, which shaft has a gear 36 thereon, the gear36 being in a housing 31 and in mesh with a segmental gear to the top ofits supporting rails 3|, whereupon v any pin resting on the elevator isdelivered to the chute 32 by means of the depression of a shutter 44forming part of the elevator and which normally retains the .pin "on thesloping floor 30. The shutter is connected by means of a series oflevers 45 to a trip arm 46 which contacts with a pin or projection 41mounted adjacent to the end of the chute 32. When the trip arm 46strikes the pin 41 the shutter 44 is depressed alv lowing the pin H todrop into the chute 32.

The chute has'a pair-of parallel springs 48 mounted along its sides andadjacent the bottom upon which the pins slide, it being found that thepins will slide more freely on springs such as these than on slide rodsor the like.-

Pin upsetting means in the form of a loop 49 (Figure 1) is pivotallymounted in the bottom of the chute 48 and in the event that a pin isdeposited in the chute with its, head end first the weight of the headwill cause it to fall into the loop 49, whereupon the further action ofgrayity will cause the pin to tumble over, and thus: it will arrive atthebottom of the chute butt end foremost. In the event that the pin isdelivered to the topof the chute with its butt end foremost, theupseting element-48 will have no effect. Each pin, therefore, willemerge from the end of the chute 32 with its butt end foremost, and isdelivered into a respective pin receiving pocket I toward the chute, asshown at 5| in Figures 1 and 3.

As each pin enters the magazine its weight de presses'a plate 52(Figures 3, 9, and 10) mounted latch,'as shown at 58. This latchoperates against a corresponding notch inra lever 51 pivotallymounted at58 and having its upper end normally impelled forwardly by a helicalspring 59. As soon as the latch 56 is lifted out ofthenotch in the arm51, whenever a pin strikes the plate 52, the spring 59 operates the arm51 to 5' engage the two corresponding membersof a. clutch 60 mounted ona shaft 6| which leads to the pin magazine 50. The shaft 6| has abeveled gear 62fixed thereon beneath the magazine 50.

and the underface of the magazine is provided 10 with an annularcorrespondinglybeveled gear wheel 63 with which the beveled gear 62 iscontinuously in mesh. The relation of the beveled gear 62 to the numberof teeth in the annular gear wheel 63 isten to one so that onerevolution 5 of the clutch 60 and itsassociated shaft 6| will rotate thepin magazine through one tenth of a revolution. v

This happens at each depression of the plate 52, or, in otherwords,'upon the entry of each 20 individual pin into the magazine. Thelast of the ten pins enters the magazine through the slide 5| leading tothe center pocket and in the meantime the other nine' are retained inthe pockets by means of the projecting ends 64 of a pin retain- 25 ingand dropping plate 65 as shown in Figures 9 and 10. .After the tenth pinhas entered the chute 5| its butt end comes into contact with the lowerend 66 of a pivoted stop, the forward end 61 of which stop is thendepressed across the 30 face of the chute so that it prevents any morepins from entering the magazine. When this occurs further rotation ofthe magazine is, of course, stopped until the pins have been deliveredfrom the magazine to the pinsetter. (See Fig- 3 In order to insure thatthe stop is always open to allow the last pin to enter the magazine, acam element 68 is projected at the end ofga U- shaped frame 69 extendingforwardly from the 40 chute, and adapted to ride under this cam element68 and open-the shutter 61 is an operating pin 10 which is fitted in anopening in a support 1|. p

When the setter frame i1 is empty it will, upon 4 its upward movementand a corresponding motion of its operating shaft ||9,operate a trip 12,(Figure 4), which in turn instigates the movement of a single-revolutionclutch 13 mounted on the side of the gear housing and operated 50 byan'auxiliary power shaft inside the gear housing. One revolution of thisclutch serves to' operate a connecting rod 14 which in turn, through abell crank lever 15, moves a link 16 rearwardly. This in turnoperates abell crank 55 lever 11, the bell crank lever having at its outer' end atrip Yelement '|8 which slides .behinda' cammed latch 19 on a pivotedrelease bar 8ll. (Fi e 9).

So long as the trip element is behind the release bar the-pin holdingplate ,65 is constrained to move along with the rotating magazine andpins are thereby retained in the pockets of the magazine.

So far as the central or tenth pin is concerned, there is provided astop element 8| which in Fig .ure 9 is shown in closed position indotted lines.

In the position-shown in dotted lines-the pin in the magazineisrestrained from dropping into the setter frame along with the othernine pins which 70 are in the peripheralpockets of the magazine andvheld in position by means of the extensions 64 on the plate 65. V

' A pin 82. is mounted on'a pivotally positioned arm 83, which armsupports the stop 8|, and be- '75 neath the pin stop shutter 8| and upondue rotation of the magazine and its associated parts ates a plunger 92,the end of the plunger impinging against a vane 93 connected by a link94 to a bell crank lever 95 connected to the extending end of the arm 53(Figures 1 and 10). This action serves to trip the single revolutionclutch previously described which again starts the vrotation of the pinmagazine.

At the same time movement of the outer end of the arm 83, upon which thestop shutter 8I is mounted, rotatably shifts the plate 65 with relationto the magazine 58, allowing the nine outer pins to drop from thepockets, this pin delivering position being illustrated in Figure 9. Theend of the arm 83 is bifurcated to make proper connection with a bolt orrivet on the plate 84.

After the pins have been dropped, a cam 84 mounted in the under-face ofthe magazine housing rides under the end of the pivoted release bar 80allowing the nose 18 of the bell crank lever 11 to be released from thelatch 19. In order that the parts may resume a normal position I wherebythe pins are again supported in the rotating magazine, a lug 85 ismounted on the under-face of the plate 65'and adapted to contact withthis lug is a retarding element 86, pivotally mounted at 81 on the frameof the machine. When the lug 85 contacts with the retarding element 86,the plate 85 is restrained from moving with the magazine until a cam 88on the outer face of the gear wheel of the magazine housing rides underthe pivoted end 89 of the retarder 88 allowing it to move away from theouter surface of the gear housing sufliciently to permit passage of thelug 85 through a slot 90 in the retarder element 88. When this occursthe plate I55 again moves in unison with the maga zine housing 50 andany pins dropping intothe magazine are retained therein.

On account of the fact that the arc of movement restrained by theretarder-88 is just one twentieth of the periphery of theplate'85, each}end 84 is moved just that far, as shown by:the dotted lines in Figure9.

After the pins have been deposited, in thefset ter frame and it isdesired to position them upon the alley for-play, the operatorpulls acord,

- operates a button 'or the like at his end of the alley (Figure 20);this in turn operates acable or cord 98, this being connected at itslower'end to a lever 91 fixed on a shaft 98, which shaft is positionedin the gear housing 55 (Figure 4). Rotation of this shaft engages aclutch 99 which is mounted on a shaft I80 which shaft has on its outerend an arm IM to the end of which is pivotally connected an'eccentrically operating arm I02 (Figure 3), the forward end of whicharm is pivotally connected to the upper end of a sweeper operating armI03, this being pivotally mounted at m.

Parallel to this arm I03 is an arm I85 (Figure 1) mounted at I06 to theframe of the machine and having its lower end pivotally connected by abell crank lever I I0 to a link I01, the outer end ,plish'ed by means ofthe gear I1I.

of which is pivotally connected to a sweeper plate or the like I08. Alsopivotally mounted on the sweeper plate is link I09 which is parallel tothe link I01, the inner 'end of which last named link is pivotallyconnected to the center of the bell 5 crank H0 at the pivotal point ofjuncture between it and the lower end'of the arm I03.

A supporting link rod, or wire, in a form of a strain relief element isshown at III, the lower end being connected to the top of the sweeper 10plate I08 and the upper end being'mounted adjacent the pivotal point ofconnection of the arm I03 with the frame. The clutch which operates thesweeper shaft I 00 is a single revolution clutch and therefore onerotation of the shaft will move 15 the sweeper downwardly to thealley,.rearwardly along the alley to sweep all pins off the same, thenceforwardly along the alley and upwardly to its original position.

At the sametime that the clutch 99 is being 2 engaged a clutch II! onthe shaft 98 is also engaged (Figure'4), this clutch in turn'normallymaking a single revolution and rotating an eccentric plate I I3 (Figure5) which has mounted on its periphery an annularv eccentric connecting25 rod H4, this in turn being connected at its lower end by a link I6Ito a plate II5 which has a slot II6 therein. This plate extends upwardlyand parallel to the eccentric connecting'rod. In the lower end of theslot is mounted the end of a link 30 H1 which is connected at itsforward end to an extension I I8 on the shaft I I9 which operates thesetter frame, by which the pins are deposited on the alley.

When the lower end of the connecting rod H1 5 is in the bottom of theslot II 6 a fairly limited movement is imparted to the shaft H9 for thesetter frame, and as a consequence the arms I20 extending forwardly fromthis shaft will move the setter frame downwardly through only a portion40. of its travel.

By referring toFigures 4 and 5 it will be noted that gear 42,helicalgear I10, bevel gear I16. and worm gear I11 are 'all mounted onthe central shaft 6| which is constantly driven by the worm 45" g I18connected -directly to the motor. I The gear, I10 drives the cross-shaftwhich has the gears the housing 55. The driving connection between 50the gear I10 and the aforesaid shaft is accom- The gear I12 meshes withthe gear I13 and drives the-crossw'sha'ft which operates the settingframe by means of the eccentric I I3.

The gear I 14 is in mesh with the gear I15, which last named gear ismounted on. the shaft I08. This shaft operates the sweeper.

In order to obtain a new set of pins, the operator or playerpullsthe'wire 98 whereupon the 60 clutch 99 is engaged and thisactuates' the sweeper apparatus, shaft I00, which shaft has a cam I19thereon (Figure 5) and at a certain point in the rotation of this camthe lever I88 is raised. as illustrated, which lever includes anextension. 60 The extension in turn engages the pin I8I on theconnecting link II1 whereupon this connecting link H1 is raised totopmost position so that the pin at its further end will fit into thenotch I82 at the top of the slot H6. After this has. been accomplishedthe clutch I I2 is engaged by operation of the cam I83, lever I84, andshaft 98 (Figure 4). The shaft 98 has a shifter yoke I85 thereon whichengages the clutch II2 whereupon 75 with the pin setter frame thereon isaccordingly I depressed to its lowermost position, as shown in I the dotand dash lines in Figure 5. This lowermost position of the spottingframe is at the alley '10 bed and allows of the positioning of a new setof pins upon the bed,

, In order to remove dead wood or fallen pins from the alley whilecertain of the tending, pins are still in play, the operator pulls ewire I21 which immediately engages the clutch II 2 whereupon the arm H5is similarly actuated, with, however, the end of the link-I I in itslowermost position, shown by the full lines in Figure 5, whereupon thearm I which supports the setter frame 20, will be shifted to its middleposition, shown in the dotted lines in Figure 5, which middlepositionbrings the setting frame down to the top of the pins and accordinglyraises the standing pins from the alley bed on its return stroke.

" When the setter frame is moved only slightly downwardly, as explainedabove, it will not conta t with the alley and no pins will be depositedon the alley. However, mounted on the setter frame, as shown inFigureji, are ten magnets, preferably electro-magnets, I2I, and'in thehead of each pin isa soft iron plug. The setter frame is movedsumcientlydownwardly by the action of the link II'I in the lower end of the slotIIO so that it will contact with the tops of any pins standing on thealley. The action ofthe magnets, which are automatically excited by thismovement through-a-contact switch I22 and corresponding connections I23(Figure 5)'-,' will then- 1 lift'the pins fromthe alley; when the setterframe '40 is again moved'up upon the completion of the rotation of theeccentricplate II3. This is done that'any pins left standingon thealleyare removed out ofJzhe way of the'sweeper arm and the sweeper arm isallowed to clean the alley of fallenpins known as dead wood". Thestanding pins are then re-deposited on the alley for further play.Whenever the beginning of a play, the operator pullsthe handle I26connected to a corresponding wire or. cord I21 (Figures 5 and 20) andthis in turn operates a release lever I20 (Figures 4 and 13).

' This release lever is positioned on the end of .the

. ment of thisplatwill impart acorrespondingly greater movement to thelink II], the bell-crank lever I I8, and associated parts, including thesetter frame supporting links' I20, whereby the setter frame links willbe moved to the lowermost posi- 7 tion, as shown in the dotted lines inFigure 5,- these in turn dropping thegsetter; frame to the-alley I bedand depositing afull set of pins thereon. The

exact actionof the setterframe'in depositing the pins upon the alleybed'uponcontact therewithbefore the sweeper-arm I08 sweeps the alley,"so

sition, as best shown in dotted lines in 'Figure 17,

it is desired to position an entirely j 50 ..new set of pins-upon theal1ey,as, for example, i whenallthe pins have been knocked down or atwhich shaft operates the setter frame.-

in Figure 14, anda pull on the cable I46, 0

is old in the art and will not be here described inany detail.jBeforethis depositing of the pins 'occurs, however, 'thesweeper-isoperated in the usual manner to clear the alley of any fallen orother'pins which might have been thereon. 1

The blockbetween the lower ends of the arms I I20 isfor the purposeofflockin'g them against accidental operation when the machine ispassing, through one or the other sequences of movement as hereinbefore'described. Therefore, if a -player in the excitement of the game pullsthe 10 handie',l26 after he has rolled-the first ball along the alley,and has failed to knock down all the pins, and it becomes necessary toreplace the pins not knocked down by the first ball, this is readilyaccomplished without requiring an at-ji 'tendant to manually place thepins upon the alley bed, by simply locking the magnetic control for thesetter frame at the player's end of the'alley, wherebyv any desired pinor pins may be removed enabling the correction of errors handle insteadof the handle for the removal of dead wood, also permits the player topractice by bowling against certain combinations of pins .or :5

against any special pin .in a certain position. This is best shown inFigures 14'to 1'7 inclusive and comprises essentially a plurality ofelectrical contact arms I24,' as best shown in Figure 14,

there being ten of these, one for each pin-con-ao trolling magnet,thesearms being adapted for individual energization of the magnets l2lof the tter frame.- The means for operating thisdevic ismreferablypositioned won the newel post of the all-return rail adjacent theplayer's end 85 of the alley, as best shown in Figures 16 and 17.

An operating handle I40 is mounted on a plate at the top 0 the newelpost, adapted to be rotated ina ci ular band Hi, this band having tennotches therein corresponding to the num-'4o her ofpins. The handle ispivoted on the plate as at I42 and can bemoved into an upwarwpoforrotation around.the band. To the inner end of the handleis attached anoperating cord or 45 0 cable, I45, and this passes through a sleeve I43I which is fastened to the handle plate which sleeve extends downwardlythrough the newel. post, ter- .fminating in a'sheave or. the like I44. Acable' I40 leads from this sheave and extends beneath 50 the floorofsthe alley to the apparatus illustrated in Figure 14,-, which ismounted on a convenient portion of the mechanism below the shaft II 9,

The cable I40 is 'attachedto an ope ti I34 which extends longitudinallythrough device for controlling the magnets, as best sho count -of acorresponding rotation of th s I40, movesthe rod Il4,through'the magnetting mechanism' for a distance corresponding the are through which thehandle I40 has moved. The pull on the cable is counteracted by means ofa helical spring I41 mounted on,

outer end of the rod and adjustably maintained a. in position thereon,by means of a nut or the like I48. The magnet control setting lever ismounted on the rod I34, which rod is square in cross-section-andslidably mounted in suitable bearings I40 which are rotatably positionedin platesv I50 forming supporting ends or a housing for this magnetcontrol mechanism. p as Mounted on the rod I34 andadapted to slidetherewith within the confines of the-plates I00 is aswitch settingleveri. The end of this I with a corresponding nbtchin the end of thebell- 1r I52 and m.

lever is adapted to move over the upper ends, is again moved upwardly byoperation of the of a row of switch operating pins I58, of which setterframe, the shaft upon which the plate I55 there are ten, correspondingin number to the is mounted is rotated, and integral with this number ofbowling pins. The cord or cable I45, plate I59 is a right-angleextension I51 the end which is tightened by depression of the handle ofwhich fits under corresponding extensions on I III on the newel post, isconnected at its farther e P s I" whereby an pw d P on end to the outerend of a link II (Figures 14 the rod I3I results in an outward movementof and-l5), the inner end of which is mounted on the push-rods I35,allowing the leaf spring the rod I34, as best shown in Figure 15, andup- -switchesaifl to return the pins III to normal ward movement bf thecable I45 will result in op uit position. the rotation of the rod I35around its axis and Th u t for. the ma n s pr f a ly a correspondingdepression of the extension I 33 o a b y 8 4 other Source thereon. ofdirect current, which can be supplied as de- Accordingly a turningmovement hf the handle sired Convenient I 43 through a portioii of itsarc of motion, and A switch I 31 is provided for making the initial itsdepression into ohe or more of the slots in current Connection." thisbeing p ea y the circular plate I ll, will result, first, in a cor- 08mthis 0am being initially rotated Startresponding longitudinal movementof th rod ed by means of a lever- I22 (Figure 5) when the m with respectto the plates I50 and the switch ma s usedfor d w d y. w uifim elements'therebetween, and second, a depression this switch is eng 8 of thehandle into the same, causing correspond-' It is p s energizing ce m n ting depression ofthe latch element I33 against by m a (If the P P ducthe particular push-rod over which it happens Spohdinfl D -l t efl' e We P setter to be n;- t t particular point in t slidable frame reachesthe bottom of its shorter travei movement; this in turn'depresses one ofthe leaf ihithe deed o a the other me8hete Springs t t 4 mmmted in thehousing being unenergized or dead. Upward movement I50, which thereuponmakes an electrical conthe name will then w it ithe P t t between tmnerends of t binding posts corresponding to the energized magnets, andthe sweeper arms the remainder. If, therefore, the

new-set handle has beenpullerl when the dead wood operations should,have been performed, the desired pins, only, may be positioned upon thealley by a shifting of the handle II into the slots correspondingtheretoand a pulling of the dead wood operating cord or handle.

It is possible with the arrangement Just described to leave desiredindividual circuits ready I for completion during the dead woodoperation, so that repeated shots may be made at the same combination ofstanding pins in practice, it be- 40 tends longitudinally over n thepins in such a ing only necessary that after each ball has been positionas to simurtaheously Contact all their rolled along the alley bed a. newset of pins he heads while at the s me t1me allowing of a com depositedand the dead wood button subsequenttact therewith of th latch memberI33, and this i Pressed. to remove those desiredplate is fastene uponor. forms part of a rod The operation of h mach he Presupmses \the orshaft which is fitted into suitable bearings in use 9 from twentytwenty-three Pins, the endplates' I and has mounted at its outer beingeither 011 the alley in th Pit, in the I end an operatingbell-crank'lever 0.. The outer elevamrs- The cam opens h Better and theend of this lever is connected by means of a contenth Plh closes the l'thereby euewih! necting-rod Hi *to the outer end of an arm I32 many asthreeexm Pm! to remain in the chute, 60 mounted on the shaft m, whichshaft operates in m 1 and 211mm! 1 the pin se tter frame. twenty-threeplhez' I An upward movement of the link I3I causes The is W h h thenecessary a corresponding depression of the plate I58, power and tmachine is then lf ope!" whereby'ali of the pins I 68 areiorced intocur- The Player takes his Posmeh eh the rent closing 'position,'as shownin Figure 18, and plflyers d o the alley and if no pins are uponconsequently all'of the magnets in the setter the ehey bed he Pull! thenew-861i and e frameare excited into pin-lifting position. This which,thrwsh the mechammrrevlouslv e: action is necessary when the setterframe moves scrihedxchuses thesweehel' hhide hedeseehd downwardly toremove dead wood from the alley end sweep the alley that it 15 eleel' ashereinbefore described, while at the same time p d balls. e p setter.then deretaining upright pins upontlie alley for further Seends' anddeposits *1 Set Of D 119 th Spo sv play, s 1 in the alleypeg andreturns-tonormal'upward i In Figure 1'5 the'spotting frame shaft hposition. The prayer then rolls a ball along thein its lowermostposition, whereby all the magalley bed, knockifigdow'mall or some of thepins. netic contacts are locked. I If he knocks down all of thepin's,.this is known It will be evident from an inspection of Figure asa strlke and affords a certainscoring total. 15 thatpperation of theindividual pin setting ,If. on the other hand, only someof the .pins areand retaining elements .through the cord or cable knocked down, this isknown as. a split and I45, while at the same time rotatingthe siiiiiiftthe player then has the privilege of rolling anor rod I3Q around'itsaxis, depresses a link I54 other ball at the pins left standing. Howeverconnected thereto by meansof an eccentric arm" it is-of course necessaryto first-clear the alley I55 and forces a.latch I55 into lockingposition 30f any fallen pins which might accidentally remain thereon Toaccompl sh this the player pulls the lever or handle attached to thecable A series' of springs I3! is provided in the rear of the housingI50. Each of these sprin'gsoperates against a push-rod I36, which, whenany one of the pins I is depressed by action of the lever I33, rides,under the enlarged head of the pins I68 and retains the same indepressed position. All of the pins I 58 and I35 are slidably mounted ina .suitable retaining elementli'l (Figure 18).

In addition to the element. I33 which indi vidually depresses the pinsIII, a plate I53 excrank lever I 60. Whenmhowever', the rod I3I '10.normal position the s tter frame again descends to replace the liftedpin in position upon the alley bed'from which they were lifted, afterwhich it returns to normal levated osition; The player may then, contine the play. 1 n

1 Meanwhile the drum l8 and the elevators and 3i carry the pins from thepit to the chute 33, whence they are delivered to the rotating movementsto cause the sweep to resume its original position, together with anautomatic safety means for halting the operation cf-the sweep if motionthereof has been instigated out of propgxl' siquence, saidmeansincluding a retractable 5.'In an automatic pin setterfor'bowlingal- -leys, meansfor setting the pins on the alley, means for; sweepingthe fallen pins oi! the alley, means for retaining any upright pins. inposil tion for further play, separate operating means at'the players endof the alley for separately initiating the pin setter movement and thedead wood sweepinsrand-resetting movement, an automatic block forpreventing the initiation of 5 one operation while another is incompleted, and I means for optical-1y warningv the player and magazine -50, themagazine having previously gblocking the alley in the event that one ofthe been emptied to deliver another set of pins'into the setter frame,this having been accomplished upon the next upward movement of thesetter frame after the original depositing of a full set of pins uponthe alley bed.

At the same time any balls in the pit are deliver d upwardly, by meansof the ball-return eieme ts 22' to 26, inclusive, to the ball returnrails l6, whence they roll by gravity back to the players end of thealley. Y

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details inconstruction varied throughout a wide range without departing from theprinciples of this inventiongand I therefore douiot purpose limiting thepatent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitatedby the prior art. a

I claim as my invention- 1. An automatic bowling pin setter, including 7means for depositing a set of pins on an alley, Q removing fallen pinsand replacing any upright pins, and a conveyor for delivering fallenpins in horizontal position from the pit to the setting mechanism, saidconveyor including a pair of alternately operating reciprocatingelevator platforms, togetherwith eans at the players end of the alleyfor selecfi v ely instigatng the operation of the pin setting orremoving means.

2. In an automatic pin setter, the combination of a setting frame, acombined ball and pin re-' turn comprising a'continuously rotated wheel,a

rim on the wheeliorcontbct of balls and recesses "fin the'wheelfor-reception of pins and a set of I stationaryuails associated therewiand means controlled by theplayer for removing fallen pins from'thealley and resetting'live pins.

3,-1n. an "automatic pin setter, the,combinav tion ofa setting frame, aball return comprising va continuously,rotated wheel and a set of staftionary rails associated therewith, means controlled by the player forremoving fallen pins from the alley and resetting live pins, and ad-.,diticnal means including bell crank levers for clearing. the alley'andpositioning a new set of pins upon,the bed, together with safety meansfor preventing the: accidental initiation of one operation while anotheroperation is taking place, said safety means :including a blackbetweenthe ends of the bellcrank le vers.

4. In an automatic bowling pin' setter, 'the combination of improvedmeans for sweeping the 76 pins from the alley, (meansior operating thesame, comprising :a'shaft and lever connection I for movingtthe sweepfirst-in. an approximately vertical direction downwardly and thencehori- -zontally along the. alley bed to clear the same,

'Tb and additional elements for reversing these operating mechanisms isinitiated while themrachine is pe tions. i 6. Bowling mechanism,including pirr assembling means for intermittently collecting the pinsin a circular formation having a center pin in alignment with the axisof the triangularly re- 25 lated pin positions, setting means forreceiving the pins in triangular'formation from the cirrforming theother cycle-of opera- 26 cular formation, and means for delivering thepins from the settingmeans to playing position.

7. Automatic pin setting mechanism for bowl- 30 ing alleys, including asetter frame, pin assembling means therefor, a ball collector andconveyor means for returning the balls to playing position, -and a,common operating means for-the ball collector and pin assembling means,the ball 3 collecting means including a constantly rotated circularframe, a fixed semi-circular frame adjacent the rotatable frame andconcentric there-' with, and friction means on 'the edges of the framesfor gripping balls and rolling same be-l? tween the frames. 1|

8. Automatic'pin setting mechanism for bowl-, ing alleys, including asetter frame, pin assembling means therefor, a ball collector and con-'veyor means for returning the balls 'to playing position, and a'commonoperating means for the ball collector and pin assembling means, theball collecting means including a constantly rotated circular frame, afixed semi-circular frame adjacent the rotatable frame and.- concentrictherewith, friction means on the edges of th frames for gr.pping ballsand rolling Qsame betw en theframes, and delivery rails associated withsaid frames. I 9. Automatic pin setting mechanism for bowiing alleys,including a setter frame, pin assembling means therefor, a ballcollector and. conveyor means for returning the balls to playingposition, and a common operating meansfor the ball collector and pinassembling means, the ball collecting means including a constantlyrotated circular frame, a fixed semi-circular frame adia centtherotatai'a le frame and-concentric therewith, friction means on the'edgesof the frames for gripping baIIs and r'olii'ng same between the frames,and delivery rails associated with said N frames,-said delivery railsleading to the players, end of the alley. f

10. In apin's'etting machine foribowlin'g alleys, 0 the combination onep'in'setter adapted to deposit a. set of pins'on an alley bed, and meansforper J Eingthe same, said means comprising a rota able aft and armsconnecting the shaft to the pin setter, and. means for selectivelyvrotating shaft through a complete frame movement.

11. In a pin setting machine for bowling alloys, the combination of apin setter adapted to deposit a set of pinson an alley bed, and meansfor operating the same, said means comprising a rotatable shaft andarmsconnecting the shaft to the pin setter, and means for selectivelyrotating the shaft through a complete and a partialsetter framemovement, sai'dmeans comprising an operating arm on. the shaft, 9.linkconnected to the operating arm, reciprocable means for shifting thelink approximately 1 ngitudinally, and means for regulating the eifec vemotion of the link.

12. In a pin setting machine for bowling alleys, the combination of apin setter adapted to deposit a set of pins on an alley bed, means foroperating the same, said means comprising a rotatable shaft,arms-connecting the shaft to the pinfsetter, means for selectivelyrotating the shaft through a complete and a partial setter framemovement, said means comprising an operating arm on the shaft, a linkconnected to the operatand a partial setter approximatelylongitudinally, and means for reg- 'ulating the efiective motion of thelink, said means cbmprising a plate having a. slot therein and a pin onthe endof the link movable from top to bottom of the slOt.

13. In a pin setting machine for bowling alleys, the combination of apin setter adaptedto deposit a set of pins on an alley bed, means foroperating the same, said means comprising a rotatable shaft, armsconnecting the shaft to the pin setter, means for selectively rotatingthe shaft through a complete and a partial setter'frame movement, saidmeans comprising an operating arm on the clearing the alley prior to thepositioning of said pins, said first-named means including'a set ofelectromagnets and means operated from the players end of thealley forindividually controlling the magnets, said means comprising a, dial, .5

a plurality of notches in dial corresponding to the number of pins, anda handle adapted to be shifted into the notches for designating thoseDinstoberetalnedonthebed.

1'1. In a pin setting for bowling alleys, 10 the combination of meansfor depositing a desired and variable number of pins on the alley bed indesired and variable arrangement and means for clearing the alley priorto the positioning of said pins, said flrst-named'means in: 15

' cluding a set offelectromagnets and means operated from the playersend of the alley for individually controlling the magnets, said meanscomprising a'. dial, a plurality of notches in the dial corre' onding tothe number of 'pins, a 20 handle a pted to be shifted into the notchesfor designating those pins to be retained on the ing arm reciprocablemeans for shifting 4 shaft, a link connected to the operating arm, re-

ciprocable means for shifting the link approximately longitudinally,means for regulating the effective motion of the link, said meanscomprismg a plate having a slot therein and a pin on the pins fromthealley,,and means for operating the same, said means comprising a frameand means connected to the frame for moving the same downwardly and thenreturning thesame to normal raised position, said frame including linksfor maintaining the sweeper blade in a' vertical position throughoutsaid movement.

'15. In an automatic pin setter for bowling alleys, a rotatable storagemagazine, ""a chute for delivering pins singly into the magazine, tripmeans for moving the magazine through onetenth of its revolution uponthe entry of each pinthereinto, further trip means for, stopping therotation of the magazine when it is full, a pin setter frame belowthemagazine, a trip-elementin the setter frame connected to the maga- 65zine wherebya full set .of pins is delivered from the magazine to thesetter frame when the setter frame is empty and ifthe magazineis full, 1and means for automatically withholding operation of the setter frameuntil the full complemen of pins has been delivered from the magazine tothe frame. 1

16. In a pin setting machine for bowling alleys,

the combination of means for depositing. a desired and variable numberof pins on the alley bed in" desired and variable arrangement and meansfor .dial' bed, and'means for rotating the dial with the handle whenpositioned in the nothces.

18; In a pin setting machine for bowling alleys, 26 the combination ofmeans for depositing a desired'and variable number of pins on the alleybed in desired'and variable arrangement and -means for clearing thealley prior to the p0 sitioning of said pins, said first-named means 30including a set of electromagnets and means operated from the playersend of the alley for in dually controlling the magnets said means com ga dial, a plurality. of notches in the i responding to the number ofpins,,a85 handle adapted to be shiftedinto the notches for designatingthose pins to be retained on the bed, means or rotating the dial withthe handle when positio ed in the notches, a series of electric switchesconnected to the electromagnets', 40 and mechanical means leading fromthe dial and handle to the switches for operating the same. 19. In a pinsetting machine for bowling alleys, the combination of means fordepositing a desired and variable number of pins on the alley 5 bed indesired and variable arrangement and -means for clearing the alley priorto the shining of said pins; said first-named means including a set ofelectromagnets and means operated from the players end of the'alley for50 individually 'controlling the magnets, said means A i comprising adial, a plurality of notches in the dial corresponding to the number ofpins, a

handle adaptei'Lto be shifted into the notches for designating thosepins to be retained on the. bed, means forrotating the dial with thehandle ,when positioned in the notches, a-series of 818C?" trio switchesconnected to the 'electromagnets,

mechanical means leading. from the dial and handle to the switches foroperating the same, so and means adjacent the switches and operated bysaid mechanical means for selectively making and breaking the electricalcontact 01' the switches.

20. In a pin setting for bowling I the combination of means fordepositing a' desired and variable number of pins on the alley .bed indesired and variable arrangement and means for clearing the alley priorto the positioning of -said'piiis, said first-named means 2,015,428handle adapted to be shifted into the notches K for designating thosepins to be retained on the bed, means for rotating the dial with thehandle when positioned in the notches, a series of electric switchesconnected to the electromagnets, mechanical means leading from the dialand "handle to the switches for operating the same,

means adjacent the switches and operated by said mechanical'means forselectively making and breaking the electrical contact of the switches,and additional means ,tor simultaneously connecting all the switches.

21. In a pin setting machine'ior bowling alleys, the combination ofmeans for depomting a desired and variable number of pins on the alleybed in desired and variable arrangement and means for clearing the alleyprior.to the positioning of said pins, said first-named means includinga set oi electromagnets and means operated .from the players end or thealley for individually controlling the magnets, said means I comprisinga dial, a plurality of notches in the dial corresponding to thenumber ctpins, a

- K 3 handle'adapted to be shifted into the notches for designatingthose pins to be retained on the ing the electrical contact of theswitches, and 10 additional means for simultaneously connecting all theswitches, together with further means for simultaneously releasing allthe switches.

22. In an automatic pin-setter ior bowling alleys, means for elevatingthe pins from the 15 bowling alley pit to a point above the alley; saidmeansincluding an elevator platform; and means for maintaining theplatform in a horizontal pinsupporting position on its upward anddownward travel and for tilting the platform into an ap- 20 proximatelyvertical pin-delivering position -at the upper end of its travel.

ERNEST HEDENSKOOG.

